1851

With a majority of consumers unable to physically shop in stores due to shelter in place orders and the COVID-19 crisis, it’s no surprise that online retail is seeing a spike. As of mid-April, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/louiscolumbus/2020/04/28/how-covid-19-is-transforming-e-commerce/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-covid-19-is-helping-e-commerce-evolve-2713163#5323ee083544" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">U.S. retailers’ are seeing their online retail revenue growth increase by 68%</a>, indicating that people are still spending money while stuck at home. According to Zack Bowlby, CEO of digital marketing agency <a href="https://roiamplified.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-covid-19-is-helping-e-commerce-evolve-2713163" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">ROI Amplified</a>, this proves that e-commerce is no longer optional for businesses moving forward.“If you don’t have e-commerce built into your business, you’re in trouble,” said Bowlby. “It used to be negotiable, but it’s not anymore.”Bowlby notes that internet traffic is up about 50% across the board. Emails are being opened 10-times more than they were in the past, and about 25% of consumers are spending more online across all verticals. But this spike in online traffic and digital spending isn’t the only insight that businesses should learn from during this time.One other trend that Bowlby is seeing make or break brands during this time is response time. While it’s always been important for brands to reply to customer inquiries, doing it in a timely manner is now critical.&nbsp;“Pre-COVID-19, internet users were already very impatient,” Bowlby said. “But think about it today — if you call Best Buy and they don’t answer, you’re calling someone else.”It’s also more important than ever for brands to share data within their own systems. The data and insights that marketing teams are seeing, for example, can be valuable in making decisions outside of that one vertical.&nbsp;“The other thing that we’re focusing on right now is cleaning up processes for our clients and merging departments. Now is the time to be sharing data across the board,” Bowlby said. “Take a retail client as an example — we’re taking data from marketing and passing it along to the purchasing department for forecasting purposes. Especially if you’re in an industry where you can’t sell right now, you need to be working on something. Everything that used to be on the back burner can not be at the forefront.”The activity that e-commerce sites are experiencing now is leading to a lot of valuable insights for brands. However, one potential pitfall that Bowlby notes is putting too much stock in behaviors occurring during COVID-19. While consumer patterns shouldn’t be overlooked during this period, things will shift as shelter in place orders are lifted and the U.S. begins to emerge on the other side of the crisis.“Don’t overreact based on data throughout this pandemic, because we don’t know what’s going to happen in three months,” Bowlby said. “Internet traffic is certainly going to drop eventually based on the law of averages, and at some point, people will go back to work. So, we can’t make long-term decisions based on current data points.”While internet traffic will drop off eventually, it will never go away entirely. That’s why Bowlby recommends building a strong e-commerce platform that’s not designed to be a short-term fix during COVID-19.“The fear will pass. When you get past the scare, what will stick is the convenience factor,” Bowlby said. “Think of something like groceries — six months ago, I would have felt weird having someone else doing my grocery shopping. But coming out of this, there’s a convenience factor that’s now there. That’s why it’s important to recognize that when you’re building your e-commerce platform, you’re not just building it for today — you’re building it for tomorrow.”

How COVID-19 is Helping E-Commerce Evolve

1851 Franchise

With internet usage skyrocketing during the coronavirus crisis, businesses have the opportunity to enhance their online retail presence to continue seeing spikes on the other side of the pandemic.

how-covid-19-is-helping-e-commerce-evolve

Seniors Helping Seniors®

Photo of two people, with white hair, sitting on couch, smiling at each other

Seniors Helping Seniors® In-Home Care Services Expands in Manassas and Fredericksburg, Virginia

seniors-helping-seniors-in-home-care-services-expands-in-manassas-and-fredericksburg-virginia

BooXkeeping

Tech-Driven Bookkeeping: How BooXkeeping Franchisees Are Embracing the Future

tech-driven-bookkeeping-how-booxkeeping-franchisees-are-embracing-the-future

Fitness Premier

Fitness Premier's State-of-the-Art Facilities and Multi-Discipline Approach Fuels Franchise Owner Success

fitness-premiers-state-of-the-art-facilities-and-multi-discipline-approach-fuels-franchise-owner-success

Melting Pot

Melting Pot 50th anniversary photo, featuring three people enjoying celebratory drinks and fondue

Melting Pot Celebrates 50 Years of Fondue Magic With a Year of Special Menus, New Offerings and Unforgettable Moments

melting-pot-50th-anniversary-fondue-celebration

Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions

Kathy Turner: The Filta Franchisee Keeping LA's Kitchens Cooking (and Green)

kathy-turner-the-filta-franchisee-keeping-las-kitchens-cooking-and-green

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Yum! Brands CEO David Gibbs To Retire in 2026 After 36 Years With the Company

yum-brands-ceo-david-gibbs-to-retire-in-2026-after-36-years-with-the-company

Hooters Bankruptcy - Chapter 11 - April 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Files for Bankruptcy, Sells Restaurants to Franchisee Group

hooters-bankruptcy-chapter-11-april-2025

Fly Dance Fitness Expands With First Franchise Location in Georgia

fly-dance-fitness-franchise-expansion

&pizza - Fast-Casual Pizza Chain Begins Franchising - 1851 Franchise

&pizza Embraces Franchising To Fuel Bold New Growth Strategy

andpizza-franchising-ceo-mike-burns

CFOs See Recession as Likely in ’25; Why Now Is the Time To Water the Franchise Buyer Seeds

cfos-see-recession-as-likely-in-25-why-now-is-the-time-to-water-the-franchise-buyer-seeds

Paris Baguette Ranks Among Top Franchises on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Paris Baguette Ranks Among Top Franchises on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for 2025

paris-baguette-ranks-among-top-franchises-on-entrepreneurs-franchise-500-for-2025

1851 Agg - McDonald's Sales Decline Expansion Continues - 1851 Franchise

McDonald’s Franchisees Feel the Pressure as Sales Decline and Expansion Continues

mcdonalds-franchisees-feel-the-pressure-as-sales-decline-and-expansion-continues

Design with hundred dollar bill and orange "recession" banner across the middle

ABC News: Recession Risks Are Rising, Economists Say. Here’s What to Know.

recession-risks-impact-economy-franchise-world

Florida Franchisee Reflects on Success and Growth with Sylvan Learning

florida-franchisee-reflects-on-success-and-growth-with-sylvan-learning

Franchise Deep Dive: Studio Pilates Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data

franchise-deep-dive-studio-pilates-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Military Veteran and Craft Beer Enthusiast to Bring Voodoo Brewing Co. to Toledo, Ohio

military-veteran-and-craft-beer-enthusiast-to-bring-voodoo-brewing-co-to-toledo-ohio

How COVID-19 is Helping E-Commerce Evolve

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS